Test The Ashes Third Test December 17-21 1000hrs @ The Adelaide Oval

[Peter Bixley]

A bit of final day tension just to make it sweeter. Well done to the lads. Not an all time dominant or ruthless side, but one that mostly gets the job done. Winning the Ashes after 3 Tests is always a momentous achievement.

And without Hazlewood and Cummins for the first two, without Hazlewood and Smith for this one and Lyon going down.

Credit to the boys, McDonald and Bailey. Some lion-hearted performances since 21st November in Perth.

The shadows of Warne, McGrath, Ponting, Waugh and co might forever loom over every subsequent team we've put on the park, but this is a bloody good one with some legends in their own right.

 

[kozi]

Here it is

Im a mad Australian fan.

But we are cooked.

Outside of Starc, none of our bowling attacked looked threatening at all. I can't see how we take 20 wickets for a reasonable score to be honest - barring England throwing away their wickets.

If England had batted with a iota of common sense since the Ashes started, they would be short odds to be a few days from going 2-0 up. If Neser and Doggett are our next best bowlers then we are in for some hard times in the years ahead.

I have loaded up on England to win the Ashes @ $3.00 before the series; and again @ $6 after the first test.

I'm very confident on this bet, have pretty much decided what I will do with my winnings.

 

[cats_09]

Who would have thought that at Tea on Day 2 of Perth, with Australia needing a test high score 205 to win, that just 9 days later we would have won the Ashes

 

[The Lobbster]

I dont know how i feel about that-essentially Brook and smith lost that test and we got out of jail.
While its awesome to retain the ashes its pretty clear this is the worst ashes winning team we have had in some time (and worst captain too) and the replacements particularly in batting and spinners are not there. Not much to write home about.

Yes I think now is the certainly the time to be moping around.

Seriously, yes England bats played bad shots. So did the Aussie batters. In the end we batted better and bowled better for longer. We’ve done it without Smudge, Haze, Gaz and Pat.

 

[Struggle]

What excuse this time Baz and Stokesy.

They'll blame getting unlucky at the toss and having to bat in the hottest conditions on day 2

 

[DaRick]

The panic in here was totally unnecessary.

World record targets are world record targets for a reason.

Coming into the series, I thought we were favourites. However, I also thought ENG had a chance, what with Cummins being out and our seemingly unsettled top order.

As it is, we've pretty consistently outplayed them and deserve to be 3-0 up.

Well done boys.

 

[Kennedy Parker]

England had Four years to plan for this series

1st test - against an Aus team missing Cummins, Hazelwood, basically playing with 10 men due to Usman being injured. Lose in 2 days.

2nd test - still no Cummins and Hazlewood, no Lyon either. Lose again

3rd test - Smith out before the test, Lyon goes down injured on day 5. Lose the Ashes in 11 days.

At no point in the series have they played a full strength Australian team and yet they’ve gone 3-0 in 11 days. How elegant

5-0 coming up!

 

[Pistol Night]

Who would have thought that at Tea on Day 2 of Perth, with Australia needing a test high score 205 to win, that just 9 days later we would have won the Ashes

Certainly not Piers Morgan the legend

 

[NSWCROW]

Literally tried to bend Test Cricket to their will.

From what i've learned, you have to bend with it.
Only the true greats can boss the art for a period of time but no one can do it 100%, let alone for 2 out of 2 innings, let alone 3 tests out of 5, let alone series after series.



AI-Generated Whateley-ism

" Even great men bow before the ( Australian ) Sun; it melts hubris into humility "

 

[swingdog]

I'll leave that to those who have seen more of the Shield. I don't think I've seen Murphy at all this season.

Guessing they will go to Khunemann as the most recent; but Rocchicioli and Swepson also probably in the thinking along with Swepson.
Age probably won't (and should almost never) come into it.

I presume they will play a spinner, not rely on Head and Webster, in Melbourne. Any chance of playing two in Sydney (there was very little to begin with imo) is probably gone.

Won the series.

Time to blood some new players. Even if England wins they’d know it’s meaningless.

 

[largebus]

As expected we made hard work of it but RIP in pieces Bazball.

 

[Westend]

England had Four years to plan for this series

1st test - against an Aus team missing Cummins, Hazelwood, basically playing with 10 men due to Usman being injured. Lose in 2 days.

2nd test - still no Cummins and Hazlewood, no Lyon either. Lose again

3rd test - Smith out before the test, Lyon goes down injured on day 5. Lose the Ashes in 11 days.

At no point in the series have they played a full strength Australian team and yet they’ve gone 3-0 in 11 days. How elegant

5-0 coming up!

I am Still sticking with 3-1 to australia my pre series prediction

 

[big_e]

What are the chances of Murphy coming back into the team? Or are there better young spinners?

For those about to Rocc, we salute you.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Oh no, somebody stood somewhere for a bit.

Personally I don't really care all that much, but it's not Australia and me personally that's invoking the spirit of cricket, much like England did after the Bairstow dismissal.

Can't crap on about the spirit of cricket and headbutt the dissent line and headbutt the disrespect to you're opponent's competing though.

 

[Joffaboy]

The bedwetting in this thread was elite entertainment. Thanks all

The closest I've come to this thread would be a Crows game where we're in great form, our opponent sucks, we're 8 goals up at half time. The opponent kicks the first two goals of the second half and melts ensue for next hour, sack everyone, despite an easy 6 goal win.

You've obviously never read a melting Saints gameday thread.
Smith should hang his head in Shame, really could hsve set up a great win.
Uzzie and GOAT to retire
Starcand Hazlewood wont be in England in 2027.
Grade Cricketers always say enjoy this win because the Poms will get us as we rebuild in 2027.
We can relax for 18 months

 

[Borisdog]

What are the chances of Murphy coming back into the team? Or are there better young spinners?

I’d have him in. I rate him. I don’t think the left armers are the way to go against a side with only 2 lefthanders.

 

[Proeagle]

Pressures off so we can experiment a bit to a degree. Replace the injured and sore with some hungry blokes wanting a spot in the team and 5-0 is still a good chance. Plenty of talent making runs/taking wickets at domestic level

I forget their names right now but we had a couple of good spinners in India. Hope we give one of them a go.

 

[chriso11]

Never in doubt

 

[GreekLunatic]

Thank god now Howie till Boxing Day with his love of bazball

 

[guruisatiger]

What excuse this time Baz and Stokesy.

There both kiwis thats There excuse

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

With a proper test ethos, England win at least one of those first three tests.

The hubris of McCullum and their leaders renders them failures.

And it’s glorious.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Murphy is the obvious one, so they’ll go for someone completely left field.

Might just play Webster

You can get away with part time spin in Melb.

 

[Westend]

Won the series.

Time to blood some new players. Even if England wins they’d know it’s meaningless.

well if times to blood new players...Rocco over Murphy for me if they go a spinner

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

 

[Westend]

Might just play Webster

You can get away with part time spin in Melb.

yeah reckon webbie is a huge shot